Moving to Blue Grass Army Depot
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Richmond, Kentucky.
Also known as: BGAD, Richmond
Blue Grass Army Depot, near Richmond in central Kentucky, stores and manages munitions in the heart of the Bluegrass Region. Families PCSing here settle in Richmond near the depot or the college towns of Berea and the Lexington suburbs, in an affordable, scenic Kentucky market with easy access to Lexington.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing is minimal, so families live in the surrounding towns. Richmond, home to Eastern Kentucky University, sits closest to the depot with the most inventory, Berea offers a small artsy college town to the south, and the Lexington suburbs like Nicholasville draw families wanting more amenities. Central Kentucky is affordable, so buying with a VA loan is common.
Where military families live near Blue Grass Army Depot
Families PCSing to Blue Grass Army Depot most often settle in Richmond, Berea, Nicholasville / Lexington suburbs. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.
| Area | 3-bed rent | Home prices | To gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $1,050-$1,500 | $210k-$300k | 10-20 min | Closest to the depot; college town with the most inventory. |
| Berea | $1,000-$1,400 | $190k-$280k | 20-30 min | Small artsy college town to the south. |
| Nicholasville / Lexington suburbs | $1,200-$1,650 | $250k-$350k | 25-40 min | More amenities toward Lexington to the north. |
2026 BAH near Blue Grass Army Depot
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Blue Grass Army Depot is set by the KY107 (Lexington, KY) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,875 | $1,440 |
| E-7 | $2,172 | $1,716 |
| O-3 | $2,205 | $2,049 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Blue Grass Army Depot
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Central High School | High | Madison County Schools | Richmond |
| Model Laboratory School | K-12 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond |
| Silver Creek Elementary | Elementary | Madison County Schools | Richmond |
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Where do most families live near Blue Grass Army Depot?
Richmond, home to Eastern Kentucky University, sits closest to the depot with the most inventory. Berea offers a small, artsy college town to the south. The Lexington suburbs like Nicholasville draw families wanting more amenities about 25 to 40 minutes north. Central Kentucky is affordable, so many families buy.
Is central Kentucky affordable for military families?
Yes. Richmond and the surrounding Madison County area have home prices below the national average, so buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks. The scenic Bluegrass countryside, low cost of living, and easy access to Lexington make it a comfortable, family-friendly assignment.
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